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Minoru Kawamura

Publications and source records attributed to Minoru Kawamura.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Emergent toroidal induction in a polar Weyl ferromagnet

Spin-orbit coupling (SOC) underpins modern spintronics by enabling the electrical generation of spin torques. Its reciprocal counterpart, in which magnetization dynamics produce electromotive forces through a spin-dependent Berry phase, is known as emergent electromagnetic induction (EEMI). However, this effect has previously been observed only in magnetic textures with spatial gradients, such as domain walls, helices, and skyrmions. Here, we demonstrate that even a spatially uniform ferromagnet can host EEMI through a previously unrecognized Berry-phase mechanism inherent to noncentrosymmetric conductors. In the polar Weyl ferromagnet PrAlGe, an applied alternating current generates spin-orbit torques that drive collective magnetization dynamics. The resulting emergent toroidal moment (T = P \times M), where (P) is the crystal's polar axis and (M) is the net magnetization, acts as a gauge potential whose time derivative (dT/dt) induces a Hall voltage. This contribution appears specifically in the out-of-phase component of the AC Hall response and scales linearly with frequency, providing direct evidence for EEMI. First-principles calculations further reveal that this toroidal vector encodes the collective motion of Weyl nodes in momentum space. These findings establish "emergent toroidal induction" as a new manifestation of spin-orbit entanglement, unifying Berry phase, topology, and spin dynamics while opening a pathway toward intrinsic and energy-efficient spin-charge interconversion.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Carrier-density dependence of magnetotransport in correlated Dirac semimetal CaIrO$_3$

We report the carrier density dependence of the magnetotransport property in the correlated Dirac semimetal CaIrO$_3$. In the dilute carrier density region ($n_{\rm H}$ $\sim 2.2 \times 10^{16} \,$$\rm{cm}^{-3}$) at $2 \, \mathrm{K}$, the mobility exceeds $1.0 \times 10^{5} \,$$\rm{cm}^{2}/\rm{Vs}$ at $2 \, \mathrm{K}$, and the transverse magnetoresistance (MR) reaches $2,000 \,$\% at $12 \, \mathrm{T}$. The analysis of quantum oscillations and Hall conductivity shows that the Fermi velocity is nearly independent of the cross-sectional area of the Fermi surface, or equivalently the carrier density, supporting a $k$-linear dispersion of the Dirac node. The field dependence of magnetoresistivity is nearly $B$-linear in the moderate carrier density region ($n_\mathrm{H} \geq 4 \times 10^{16}\,$cm$^{-3}$), but scales with $B^{\alpha}$ ($\alpha > 2$) in the lower carrier density region. The variation of magnetoresistivity is likely affected by the enhanced long-range Coulomb interaction in the quantum limit, where Dirac electrons are subject to the magnetic confinement.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Epitaxial growth of topological insulator $\beta$-Ag2Te thin films

We report epitaxial growth of $\beta$-Ag2Te thin films by molecular beam epitaxy. $\beta$-Ag2Te, recently identified as a topological insulator, was grown by depositing Ag on InP substrate at room temperature followed by Te supply at elevated temperature. X-ray diffraction measurements and transmission electron microscopy analyses confirmed the (002) crystal orientation and the epitaxial atomic arrangement of $\beta$-Ag2Te thin films. Electrical transport measurements revealed that the $\beta$-Ag2Te thin film exhibits two-dimensional metallic conduction while the bulk remains insulating. The epitaxial $\beta$-Ag2Te thin films obtained here provide a viable platform for investigating emergent phenomena arising from surface Dirac states and for designing heterojunction-based device structures.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Non-Hermitian topological devices with Chern insulators

Multi-terminal topological devices are a new generation of electronic devices with quantized properties robust against imperfections. In magnetic topological insulators, dissipationless edge states give functional devices in zero magnetic field, of interest for quantum metrology (resistance standard) or topological electronics (Chern networks). Here we show that a new generation of simple quantum circuits (disk, ring) with non-Hermitian topology, based on the interconnection of 1D Chern states in the quantum anomalous Hall regime, can have a much stronger quantization of their invariant than that of the Chern invariant itself, when measured in a non-metrology grade setup - that is, in industry-relevant conditions. Remarkably, the chirality-related topological skin effect is realized without the need of a magnetic field or an electrical gate, with a record degree of localization for a quantum Hall device. This new type of topological quantum devices based on magnets, with an exponential response that can be switched at small magnetic fields (about 200mT), can operate at liquid-Helium temperature with a good quantization and have some potential as cryogenic sensors for applications in high-precision impedance or magnetic field measurements.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Two-dimensional superconducting diode effect in topological insulator/superconductor heterostructure

The superconducting diode effect (SDE) is characterized by the nonreciprocity of Cooper-pair motion with respect to current direction. In three-dimensional (3D) materials, SDE results in a critical current that varies with direction, making the effect distinctly observable: the material exhibits superconductivity in one direction while behaving as a resistive metal in the opposite direction. However, in genuinely two-dimensional (2D) materials, the critical current density is theoretically zero, leaving the manifestation of SDE in the 2D limit an intriguing challenge. Here, we present the observation of SDE in a heterostructure composed of the topological insulator Bi$_2$Te$_3$ and the iron based superconductor Fe(Se,Te) $-$a candidate for topological superconductor$-$ where superconductivity is confined to the 2D limit. The observed I-V characteristics reveal nonreciprocity in the vortex-creep regime, where finite voltages arise due to the two-dimensional nature of superconductivity. Furthermore, our 2D film demonstrates abrupt voltage jumps, influenced by both the current flow direction and the transverse magnetic field direction. This behavior resembles that of 3D materials but, in this case, is driven by the vortex-flow instability, as illustrated by voltage controlled S-shaped I-V curves. These results underscore the pivotal role of vortex dynamics in SDE and provide new insights into the interplay between symmetry breaking and two-dimensionality in topological insulator/superconductor systems.

cond-mat.supr-con

Higher-order epitaxy: A pathway to suppressing structural instability and emergent superconductivity

Molecular beam epitaxy enables the growth of thin film materials with novel properties and functionalities. Typically, the lattice constants of films and substrates are designed to match to minimise disorders and strains. However, significant lattice mismatches can result in higher-order epitaxy, where commensurate growth occurs with a period defined by integer multiples of the lattice constants. Despite its potential, higher-order epitaxy is rarely used to enhance material properties or induce emergent phenomena. Here, we report single-crystalline FeTe films grown via 6:5 commensurate higher-order epitaxy on CdTe(001) substrates. Scanning transmission electron microscopy reveals self-organised periodic interstitials near the interface, arising from higher-order lattice matching. Synchrotron x-ray diffraction shows that the tetragonal-to-monoclinic structural transition in bulk FeTe is strongly suppressed. Remarkably, these films exhibit substrate-selective two-dimensional superconductivity, likely due to suppressed monoclinic distortion. These findings demonstrate the potential of higher-order epitaxy as a tool to control materials and inducing emergent phenomena.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Control of nonreciprocal charge transport in topological insulator/superconductor heterostructures with Fermi level tuning and superconducting-layer thickness

Nonreciprocal charge transport (NCT) is defined as a phenomenon where electrical resistance depends on the current direction. It has been drawing much attention because it sensitively reflects the symmetry breaking of material systems. A topological insulator (TI)/superconductor (SC) heterostructure where the topological surface state (TSS) of the TI layer is proximitized with the SC layer is one such system that presents a sizable NCT due to a large spin-orbit coupling and superconductivity. Here, we report a control of the magnitude and sign of NCT: reversal of the direction of NCT by tuning the Fermi energy of TSS of the TI layer with respect to the charge neutral point by systematic regulation of Sb composition $x$ in a TI/SC heterostructures of (Bi$_{1-x}$Sb$_x$)$_2$Te$_3$/FeSe$_{0.1}$Te$_{0.9}$. The result is consistent with the model of a TSS proximitized with superconductivity. Furthermore, we find a significant enhancement of the magnitude of NCT in the TI/SC heterostructures by reducing the thickness of the SC layer. The enhancement can be ascribed to the inversion-symmetry breaking of the FeSe$_{0.1}$Te$_{0.9}$ SC-layer itself adjacent to the TI layer. Our results highlight the essential role of the TSS for exhibiting NCT and offer new knobs to control the direction and magnitude of NCT.

cond-mat.supr-con

Nanosculpted 3D helices of a magnetic Weyl semimetal with switchable nonreciprocity

The emergent properties of materials are defined by the symmetries of their underlying atomic, spin and charge order. The explorations of symmetry breaking effects are therefore usually limited by the intrinsic properties of known, stable materials. In recent years, advances in focused ion beam (FIB) fabrication have enabled the nanostructuring of bulk crystals into ultraprecise transport devices [1-4], facilitating the investigation of geometrical effects on mesoscopic length scales. In this work, we expand such explorations into three-dimensional (3D), curvilinear shapes, by sculpting helical nanostructure devices from single crystals of the high-mobility, centrosymmetric magnetic Weyl semimetal Co$_3$Sn$_2$S$_2$ [5,6]. The combination of the imposed chiral geometry and intrinsic ferromagnetism yields nonreciprocal electron transport [7-9]. The high coercivity results in an anomalous, reversable diode effect remnant under zero applied magnetic field, which is orders of magnitude larger than can be explained by a classical self-field mechanism. We argue the enhancement originates from the high carrier mobility and the resulting quasi-ballistic transport: the conduction electron mean free path approaches the length scale of the curvature, resulting in increased asymmetrical scattering at the boundaries. We further demonstrate the inverse effect of the nonreciprocal transport: the field-free, current-induced switching of the magnetisation. The results establish the vast potential of 3D nanosculpting to explore and enrich the functionality of quantum materials.

cond-mat.mes-hall

AC Current-Driven Magnetization Switching and Nonlinear Hall Rectification in a Magnetic Topological Insulator

Spin-orbit torque arising from the spin-orbit-coupled surface states of topological insulators enables current-induced control of magnetization with high efficiency. Here, alternating-current (AC) driven magnetization reversal is demonstrated in a semi-magnetic topological insulator (Cr,Bi,Sb)2Te3/(Bi,Sb)2Te3, facilitated by a low threshold current density of 1.5x10^9 A/m^2. Time-domain Hall voltage measurements using an oscilloscope reveal a strongly nonlinear and nonreciprocal Hall response during the magnetization reversal process. Fourier analysis of the time-varying Hall voltage identifies higher-harmonic signals and a rectified direct-current (DC) component, highlighting the complex interplay among the applied current, external magnetic field, and magnetization dynamics. Furthermore, a hysteretic behavior in the current-voltage characteristics gives rise to frequency mixing under dual-frequency excitation. This effect, distinct from conventional polynomial-based nonlinearities, allows for selective extraction of specific frequency components. The results demonstrate that AC excitation can not only switch magnetization efficiently but also induce tunable nonlinear responses, offering a new pathway for multifunctional spintronic devices with potential applications in energy-efficient memory, signal processing, and frequency conversion.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Non-Fermi liquid transport and strong mass enhancement near the nematic quantum critical point in FeSe$_x$Te$_{1-x}$ thin films

Unconventional superconductivity is often accompanied by non-Fermi liquid (NFL) behavior, which emerges near a quantum critical point (QCP) - a point where an electronic ordered phase is terminated at absolute zero under non-thermal parameters. While nematic orders, characterized by broken rotational symmetry, are sometimes found in unconventional superconductors, the role of nematic fluctuations in driving NFL transport behavior remains unclear. Here, we investigated electrical and thermoelectric transport properties in FeSe$_x$Te$_{1-x}$ thin films and observed hallmark NFL behavior: temperature-linear resistivity and logarithmic divergence of thermoelectricity at low temperatures. Notably, the thermoelectricity peaks sharply at the nematic QCP ($x$ = 0.45), highlighting the dominant role of nematic fluctuations in the NFL transport. Furthermore, we found that the pair-breaking mechanisms in the superconducting phase crosses over from orbital- to Pauli-limited effects, indicating the mass enhancement near the nematic critical regime. These findings reveal the profound impact of nematic fluctuations on both normal-state transport and superconducting properties.

cond-mat.str-el

Emergence of ferroelectric topological insulator as verified by quantum Hall effect of surface states in (Sn,Pb,In)Te films

Emergent phenomena arising from nontrivial band structures based on topology and symmetry have been attracting keen interest in contemporary condensed-matter physics. Materials such as SnTe and PbTe are one such example, which demonstrate a topological phase transition while showing ferroelectric instability derived from their rock-salt structure. The ferroelectricity can lift the valley degeneracy, enabling the emergence of the Z2 topological insulator phase, although its observation in transport phenomena remains elusive. Here, we report magnetotransport properties of ferroelectric (Sn,Pb)Te thin films with finely-controlled Fermi levels via In doping. We identified the ferroelectric topological insulator phase from the observations of the quantum Hall states with filling factors of $ν$ = 1, 2 and 3 with both spin- and valley-degeneracy lifting. The electronic states are two-dimensional, indicating the ferroelectricity-induced topological surface states with a single Dirac cone. The finding of the new topological state with ferroelectricity will further expand the field of topological physics and advance the development of functional properties, such as topological nonlinear photonics and nonreciprocal transport with memory effect.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

This took us a Weyl: synthesis of a semimetallic Weyl ferromagnet with point Fermi surface

Quantum materials governed by emergent topological fermions have become a cornerstone of physics. Dirac fermions in graphene form the basis for moiré quantum matter, and Dirac fermions in magnetic topological insulators enabled the discovery of the quantum anomalous Hall effect. In contrast, there are few materials whose electromagnetic response is dominated by emergent Weyl fermions. Nearly all known Weyl materials are overwhelmingly metallic, and are largely governed by irrelevant, conventional electrons. Here we theoretically predict and experimentally observe a semimetallic Weyl ferromagnet in van der Waals (Cr,Bi)$_2$Te$_3$. In transport, we find a record bulk anomalous Hall angle $> 0.5$ along with non-metallic conductivity, a regime sharply distinct from conventional ferromagnets. Together with symmetry analysis, our data suggest a semimetallic Fermi surface composed of two Weyl points, with a giant separation $> 75\%$ of the linear dimension of the bulk Brillouin zone, and no other electronic states. Using state-of-the-art crystal synthesis techniques, we widely tune the electronic structure, allowing us to annihilate the Weyl state and visualize a unique topological phase diagram exhibiting broad Chern insulating, Weyl semimetallic and magnetic semiconducting regions. Our observation of a semimetallic Weyl ferromagnet offers an avenue toward novel correlated states and non-linear phenomena, as well as zero-magnetic-field Weyl spintronic and optical devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Dynamic transition and Galilean relativity of current-driven skyrmions

The coupling of conduction electrons and magnetic textures leads to quantum transport phenomena described by the language of emergent electromagnetic fields [1-3]. For magnetic skyrmions, spin-swirling particle-like objects, an emergent magnetic field is produced by their topological winding [4-6], resulting in the conduction electrons exhibiting the topological Hall effect (THE) [7]. When the skyrmion lattice (SkL) acquires a drift velocity under conduction electron flow, an emergent electric field is also generated [8,9]. The resulting emergent electrodynamics dictate the magnitude of the THE via the relative motion of SkL and conduction electrons. Here, we report the emergent electrodynamics induced by SkL motion in Gd$_2$PdSi$_3$, facilitated by its giant THE [10,11]. With increasing current excitation, we observe the dynamic transition of the SkL motion from the pinned to creep regime and finally to the flow regime, where the THE is totally suppressed. We argue that the Galilean relativity required for the total cancellation of the THE can be generically recovered in the flow regime, even in complex multiband systems such as the present compound. Moreover, the observed THE voltages are large enough to enable real-time measurement of the SkL velocity-current profile, which reveals the inertial-like motion of the SkL in the creep regime, appearing as current-hysteretic behavior of the skyrmion velocity.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Molecular beam epitaxy of superconducting FeSe$_{x}$Te$_{1-x}$ thin films interfaced with magnetic topological insulators

Engineering heterostructures with various types of quantum materials can provide an intriguing playground for studying exotic physics induced by the proximity effect. Here, we report the successful synthesis of iron-based superconductor FeSe$_{x}$Te$_{1-x}$ (FST) thin films across the entire composition range of $0 \leq x \leq 1$ and its heterostructure with a magnetic topological insulator by using molecular beam epitaxy. Superconductivity is observed in the FST films with an optimal superconducting transition temperature $T_c$ $\sim$ 12 K at around x = 0.1. We found that superconductivity survives in the very Te-rich films ($x \leq 0.05$), showing stark contrast to bulk crystals with suppression of superconductivity due to an appearance of bicollinear antiferromagnetism accompanied by a monoclinic structural transition. By examining thickness $t$ dependence of magnetic susceptibility and electrical transport properties, we observed a trend where anomalies associated with the first order structural transition broaden in films with below $t \sim$ 100 nm. We infer this observation suggests a suppression of the structural instability near substrates. Furthermore, we fabricated an all chalcogenide-based heterointerface between FST and a magnetic topological insulator (Cr,Bi,Sb)$_{2}$Te$_{3}$ for the first time, observing both superconductivity and a large anomalous Hall conductivity. The anomalous Hall conductivity increases with decreasing temperature, approaching the quantized value of $e^2/h$ down to the measurable minimum temperature at $T_c$. The result suggests coexistence of magnetic and superconducting gaps at low temperatures opening at the top and bottom surfaces, respectively. Our novel magnetic topological insulator/superconductor heterostructure could be an ideal platform to explore chiral Majorana edge mode.

cond-mat.supr-con

Gate-electric-field and magnetic-field control of versatile topological phases in a semi-magnetic topological insulator

Surface states of a topological insulator demonstrate interesting quantum phenomena, such as the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect and the quantum magnetoelectric effect. Fermi energy tuning plays a role in inducing phase transitions and developing future device functions. Here, we report on controlling the topological phases in a dual-gate field-effect transistor of a semi-magnetic topological insulator heterostructure. The heterostructure consists of magnetized one-surface and non-magnetic other-surface. By tuning the Fermi energy to the energy gap of the magnetized surface, the Hall conductivity $σ_{xy}$ becomes close to the half-integer quantized Hall conductivity $e^2/2h$, exemplifying parity anomaly. The dual-gate control enables the band structure alignment to the two quantum Hall states with $σ_{xy} = e^2/h$ and 0 under a strong magnetic field. These states are topologically equivalent to the QAH and axion insulator states, respectively. Precise and independent control of the band alignment of the top and bottom surfaces successively induces various topological phase transitions among the QAH, axion insulator, and parity anomaly states in magnetic topological insulators.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Theory of the microwave impedance microscopy of Chern insulators

Microwave impedance microscopy (MIM) has been utilized to directly visualize topological edge states in many quantum materials, from quantum Hall systems to topological insulators, across the GHz regime. While the microwave response for conventional metals and insulators can be accurately quantified using simple lumped-element circuits, the applicability of these classical models to more exotic quantum systems remains limited. In this work, we present a general theoretical framework of the MIM response of arbitrary quantum materials within linear response theory. As a special case, we model the microwave response of topological edge states in a Chern insulator and predict an enhanced MIM response at the crystal boundaries due to collective edge magnetoplasmon (EMP) excitations. The resonance frequency of these plasmonic modes should depend quantitatively on the topological invariant of the Chern insulator state and on the sample's circumference, which highlights their non-local, topological nature. To benchmark our analytical predictions, we experimentally probe the MIM response of quantum anomalous Hall edge states in a Cr-doped (Bi,Sb)2Te3 topological insulator and perform numerical simulations using a classical formulation of the EMP modes based on this realistic tip-sample geometry, both of which yield results consistent with our theoretical picture. We also show how the technique of MIM can be used to quantitatively extract the topological invariant of a Chern insulator, disentangle the signatures of topological versus trivial edge states, and shed light on the microscopic nature of dissipation along the crystal boundaries.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Nonreciprocal electrical transport in multiferroic semiconductor (Ge,Mn)Te

We have investigated the nonreciprocal electrical transport, that is a nonlinear resistance effect depending on the current direction, in multiferroic Rashba semiconductor (Ge,Mn)Te. Due to coexistence of ferromagnetic and ferroelectric orders, (Ge,Mn)Te provides a unique platform for exploring the nonreciprocal electrical transport in a bulk form. (Ge,Mn)Te thin films shows a large nonreciprocal resistance compared to GeTe, the nonmagnetic counterpart with the same crystal structure. The magnetic-field-angle dependence of the nonreciprocal resistance is maximized when magnetic field is orthogonal to both current and electric polarization, in accord with the symmetry argument. From the analysis of temperature and magnetic field dependence, we deduce that inelastic scatterings of electrons mediated by magnons dominantly contribute to the observed nonreciprocal response. Furthermore, the nonreciprocal resistance is significantly enhanced by lowering hole density. The Fermi level dependence is attributed to the deformation of the Rashba band in which the spin-momentum locked single Fermi surface appears by exchange field from the in-plane magnetization. The present study provides a key insight to the mechanisms of novel transport phenomena caused by the interplay of ferroelectric and ferromagnetic orders in a semiconductor.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Experimental signatures of versatile Weyl semimetal in pyrochlore iridate with spin-ice like magnetic orders

We report experimental signatures of topological transitions among the Weyl semimetal states of pyrochlore Pr2Ir2O7, where the Kondo coupling between the Ir topological electrons and the spin-ice like orders of Pr moments plays a decisive role. The magnetic-field dependence of resistivity and the Hall conductivity exhibits a plateau and a sharp jump associated with a magnetic-field hysteresis, similar to a liquid-gas-like transition in dipolar spin ice system. Furthermore, the Kondo coupling is controlled by the hydrostatic pressure, revealing that the field-induced displacement of Weyl points in the momentum space strongly depends on the respective electronic state as well as on the Kondo coupling strength. These observations pave a route toward the engineering of band topology in hybrid quantum materials with relativistic conduction electrons and localized magnetic moments.

cond-mat.str-el